Is Congress really that dysfunctional right now? What exactly is going on?

[suplex3000]

Let's speak about our Congress.
I've been hearing a lot about dysfunctionality in legislation, specifically between House Speaker John Boehner and President Barack Obama. Long story short, they don't agree on anything, and this has been a reoccurring issue since Obama's re-election. More recently, Republicans in the House even denied a fiscal cliff bill proposed by Boehner, a Republican himself. Basically Republicans are reluctant to reconcile to any agreement in fear of looking weak.
Is Congress truly at a dysfunctional point right now, or has this just been exaggerated to a large extent? How does it compare with past relationships in Congress?

 

[ScienceRocks]

All the republicans care about is slash, cut and burn. These fuckers will gut our country if we allow them to put a president into the white house.

 

[Moonglow]

They are having free lunches and booze..

 

[william the wie]

The original party of the Ethnic cleansing the Democrats must be destroyed a la Carthage.

 

[depotoo]

Are you paying your fair share to fund worhless programs?

All the republicans care about is slash, cut and burn. These fuckers will gut our country if we allow them to put a president into the white house.

 

[dadsgm]

Yes they are dysfunctional. You must consider that statement from the standpoint that this Congress is exceptionally partisan. They have lost the reality of doing what is best for the country and those who say they are are only telling you what you want to hear. The Congressmen and Women do not know how to coordinate and compromise. They think anyone who does not think as they do is wrong headed and will not support any compromise in order to reach a conclusion. They want it all or nothing. There are a number who will do anything in order to further the legacy of the Administration to the point of keeping everything in knots. They have lost the idea of Constitutionalism and I venture to say most have not read the Constitution and more do not understand its meaning and workings. They have abdicated their responsibility for making law and oversight to the Department Directors and have no idea what the various agencies are doing until their is a crisis and then they react in an astonishing manner demanding answers. But they never get them and never take any real action. So, yes they are dysfunctional.

 

[buddhallah_the_christ]

Imagine two crazy kids on the playground that really refuse to cooperate. The president is like the teacher, and likes one kid better, but knows it is best if the two compromise, it's better for everyone.
That's about it. Republicans and Democrats are the two kids. The president is a Democrat but knows compromise is best for everyone.
So we are being played like a sand castle.

 

[depotoo]

Compromise does not exist in his vocabulary.

Imagine two crazy kids on the playground that really refuse to cooperate. The president is like the teacher, and likes one kid better, but knows it is best if the two compromise, it's better for everyone.
That's about it. Republicans and Democrats are the two kids. The president is a Democrat but knows compromise is best for everyone.
So we are being played like a sand castle.

 

[william the wie]

Compromise does not exist in his vocabulary.

Imagine two crazy kids on the playground that really refuse to cooperate. The president is like the teacher, and likes one kid better, but knows it is best if the two compromise, it's better for everyone.
That's about it. Republicans and Democrats are the two kids. The president is a Democrat but knows compromise is best for everyone.
So we are being played like a sand castle.

Nor truth telling, promise keeping, competence nor any other component of being a leader. He Is the arch-typical D.

 

[Agit8r]

It's been fully dysfunctional for several years now.

 

[ChrisL]

The original party of the Ethnic cleansing the Democrats must be destroyed a la Carthage.

All the republicans care about is slash, cut and burn. These fuckers will gut our country if we allow them to put a president into the white house.

Both parties are the same, just at opposite ends of the spectrum. Vote 3rd party!

 

[ScienceRocks]

The original party of the Ethnic cleansing the Democrats must be destroyed a la Carthage.

All the republicans care about is slash, cut and burn. These fuckers will gut our country if we allow them to put a president into the white house.

Both parties are the same, just at opposite ends of the spectrum. Vote 3rd party!

Vote moderate as most of the time they want to work together towards the health of our nation. Agenda is less of a issue with them.

 

[ChrisL]

The original party of the Ethnic cleansing the Democrats must be destroyed a la Carthage.

All the republicans care about is slash, cut and burn. These fuckers will gut our country if we allow them to put a president into the white house.

Both parties are the same, just at opposite ends of the spectrum. Vote 3rd party!

Vote moderate as most of the time they want to work together towards the health of our nation. Agenda is less of a issue with them.

Hmm. yes well, "moderate" to you might be different than what "moderate" is to me. Personally, I don't really believe that it is possible for democrats or republicans to be "moderate." If so, then it is an extremely RARE condition.

 

[william the wie]

Since Hillary is the only D that can possibly get elected in 2016 that says a lot about the Ds. The average bond ratings of D states v. R states also says a lot. None of what it says is good.

 

[Delta4Embassy]

Isn't members of Congress who're dysfunctional, but the very system itself. If you have a divided house with only two sides diametrically-opposed to one another, nothing for the good of all will ever get done and everything will be partisan oneupsmanship. Instead of a congressional system, should be a simple state dictator of sorts making decisions for their home state but not at the whim or approval of the rest of the country. Effectively 50 independent states like independent countries in the EU.

 

[Darkwind]

Imagine two crazy kids on the playground that really refuse to cooperate. The president is like the teacher, and likes one kid better, but knows it is best if the two compromise, it's better for everyone.
That's about it. Republicans and Democrats are the two kids. The president is a Democrat but knows compromise is best for everyone.
So we are being played like a sand castle.

Wow, pass some of that shit around...

 

[jasonnfree]

Let's speak about our Congress.
I've been hearing a lot about dysfunctionality in legislation, specifically between House Speaker John Boehner and President Barack Obama. Long story short, they don't agree on anything, and this has been a reoccurring issue since Obama's re-election. More recently, Republicans in the House even denied a fiscal cliff bill proposed by Boehner, a Republican himself. Basically Republicans are reluctant to reconcile to any agreement in fear of looking weak.
Is Congress truly at a dysfunctional point right now, or has this just been exaggerated to a large extent? How does it compare with past relationships in Congress?

Obama and boner seem to agree on the trans pacific partnership. In fact, obama is dissing most of his base and siding with the republicans on this issue. Obama and his good buddy republicans will probably win on this one. So much for his reputation as being a liberal, progressive etc. except in the minds of loons.

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/13/business/senate-vote-obama-fast-track-trade-deal.html?_r=0

 

[xdangerousxdavex]

Obama and boner seem to agree on the trans pacific partnership.

Do you really think they may have any doubts on the TPP? Corporations certainly need that partnership, most people from other Pacific countries like the idea of the TPP and will support it too.